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Close the Equity Gap

Act Now. Accelerate Growth. Achieve Equity.

After disrupting our own status quo at our 50th Anniversary Conference & Exchange last year, we must now gather and focus our attention on the equity gap that has persisted in this country for far too long and expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and our country's recovery.

What will it take to close the equity gap? How will you contribute to the solution?

As part of our efforts to accelerate minority business growth and advance economic equity NMSDC and the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) are collaborating to bring this year’s NMSDC Annual Conference & Exchange and MBDA National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week to Baltimore.

We are collaborating to identify the barriers facing our community. It will take a coalition of organizations, industry leaders, business owners, and changes in policy to reach economic equity. We need innovative and transformative solutions, and that's where you come in!

Join us in Baltimore for the 2023 NMSDC Annual Conference & Exchange and MBDA National MED Week!

 

A Brief Recap

2023 NMSDC Annual Conference & Exchange and MBDA National MED Week

Featured Speakers

  • Mainstage Monday
  • Mainstage Tuesday
  • Mainstage Wednesday
  • Other Notables
Rosie Allen-Herring president and CEOUnited Way of the National Capital Area
Dr. Heather Boushey chief economist for the Invest in America Cabinet at the White HouseWhite House
Calvin Butler president and chief executive officerExelon
Donald R. Cravins, Jr. under secretary of commerce for minority business developmentMBDA
Joseph Dominguez president and CEOConstellation Energy
Dr. Faye Gerard senior federal government affairs directorBP
Ed Gordon Emmy Award-winning broadcasterEd Gordon Media
Kindle Goodson vice president, chief operating and procurement officerTIAA
Eamon Javers senior Washington correspondentCNBC
Josetta Jones chief diversity officerChevron
Soo Kim managing partner and founderStandard General
Ying McGuire CEO and presidentNMSDC
Sandra M. Moore managing director and chief impact officerAdvantage Capital
Wes Moore governorMaryland
Jason Mudd director, operations and transformationIBM
Brian Pieninck president and CEOCareFirst Bluecross Blueshield
Sharon Pinder president/CEOCapital Region Minority Supplier Development Council
Ann Ramakumaran CEOAmpcus
Margaret Smith senior managing director and executive director of corporate services and sustainability and business operationsAccenture
Cynthia Williams global director of sustainability, homologation, and complianceFord
Pete Buttigieg U.S. secretary of transportationU.S. Department of Transportation
Jessica Cavazos deputy under secretaryMBDA
Donald R. Cravins, Jr. under secretary of commerce for minority business developmentMBDA
Donna Ennis director, community engagement and program developmentGeorgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute/Georgia MBDA Business Center
Don Graves deputy secretaryU.S. Department of Commerce
Isabel Guzman administratorU.S. Small Business Administration
Orestes Hubbard operatorSan Antonio MBDA Export Center
Reta Jo Lewis president and chair of the board of directorsEXIM Bank
Ying McGuire CEO and presidentNMSDC
N. Scott Philips project directorBaltimore MBDA Advanced Manufacturing Center
Les Brun founder, chairman, and CEOAriel Alternatives, LLC
Donald R. Cravins, Jr. under secretary of commerce for minority business developmentMBDA
Alphonso David CEO and presidentGlobal Black Economic Forum
Cachavious English managing counsel and policy strategistFord
Kala Gibson chief enterprise corporate responsibility officerFifth Third
Wayne Hamilton vice president, specialty taxWalmart Stores Inc.
Barbara Kubicki chief procurement officerWells Fargo
Leslie Lewis founder and CEOMultigenerational.Black, Inc
Loida Lewis author and chair and CEOTLC Beatrice, LLC
Sally Macaluso chief procurement officer, indirect services procurementJohnson & Johnson
Ivy McGregor executive directorBeyGOOD Foundation
Ying McGuire CEO and presidentNMSDC
Michelle Miller national correspondent, CBS News, co-hostCBS Saturday Morning
ReNika Moore director, racial justice programACLU
Tarrus Richardson founder and CEOIMB Partners
Anthony Robinson presidentMinority Business Enterprise Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc.
April Ryan reporter, author, and White House correspondentThe Grio
Arian Simone CEOFearless Fund
Susanna Webber chief procurement officerMerck
Nasra Abdi CEOACI Solutions
Stephen Benjamin senior advisor and director of the office of public engagementWhite House
Ron Busby CEO and presidentU.S. Black Chambers, Inc.
Ashley Campbell responsible purchasing and supplier diversity managerVolvo Group
Sean Cogdell CEOThe Panther Group
Marianne De Aguiar head of ESG procurementInternational Paper
Hebrew Dixon director of supplier diversityARCO Design/Build Companies
Shekinah Fountain senior DEI associate

The Weitz Company

Sahra Halpern president and CEOBusiness Consortium Fund
John Henderson chairman and CEO,AEL Holdings
Taydra Mitchell-Jackson chief marketing officerUnilever
Carlton L. Oneal National MBE Input Committee chair and presidentLightSpeedEdu
Kris Oswold hybrid certification implementationNMSDC
Maria Prince global procurement ESG leaderDuPont
Germaine Reece business diversity market leader – centralCDW
Leon Richardson president and CEOThe Chemico Group, LLC
Larry Stubblefield acting associate administratorU.S. Small Business Administration
Nicole Van Valen procurement supplier diversity senior managementCVS Health
Sarah Von Der Lippe pro bono chief legal counselMinority Business Enterprise Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc.
PRESIDENTS SPONSORS

Call for Proposals

The call for proposals is now closed. NMSDC is currently reviewing the submitted breakout sessions, power talks, and interactive engagements that were submitted for the 2023 Annual Conference & Exchange. We hope to make session acceptance announcements by the end of July. 

Celebrating 40 Years of MBDA's National MED Week

“MBDA and NMSDC share a mission to create an equitable business ecosystem in order to unlock our Nation’s economic potential. With historic investments across sectors and industries, the opportunity is here. MBDA and NMSDC have the tools and the reach to make this moment count by expanding access to capital, contracts, networks, and opportunities that every American entrepreneur deserves.”

- Donald R. Cravins, Jr., Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development.

Celebrating 40 Years of MED Week
LEGACY SPONSORS

OA23: Igniting Growth

Each year, prior to the official opening of the NMSDC Annual Conference & Exchange, the National MBE Input Committee presents the Opportunity Accelerator, a special event created by MBEs for MBEs. The event is FREE and open to all minority businesses, NMSDC corporate members, and regional affiliate council staff.

REGISTER TODAY
LANDMARK SPONSORS
Agenda Highlights

More voices. More choices.

Baltimore has a depth of American history and unspoiled charm tucked away across the city. And this year, we are bringing the charm to the Baltimore Convention Center with four days filled to the brim with inspirational and innovative content that will give our MBEs and corporate members the access, knowledge/skills, and relationships they need to succeed and grow.

TOUCH
Oct. 22, 2023 SUNDAY
Oct. 22, 2023SUNDAY
  • Industry Group Meetings
  • NMBEIC Opportunity Accelerator 2023
  • Welcome Reception
TOUCH
Oct. 23, 2023 MONDAY
Oct. 23, 2023MONDAY
  • Mainstage Sessions and Impact Labs
  • The Exchange Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
  • Networking Reception
TOUCH
Oct. 24, 2023 TUESDAY
Oct. 24, 2023TUESDAY
  • Mainstage and NMSDC Theater Sessions
  • The Exchange
  • Free Night - Explore Baltimore
TOUCH
Oct. 25, 2023 WEDNESDAY
Oct. 25, 2023WEDNESDAY
  • Mainstage and NMSDC Theatre Sessions
  • Matchmaking and Ask the Experts Mentoring
  • Pitch Competition
  • Awards Ceremony
LEADERSHIP SPONSORS

Save with Early Bird Registration Rates

REGISTRATION

Early bird registration rates expire in:

01
Days
23
Hours
45
Minutes
67
Seconds

Connect ⇒ Partner ⇒ Grow

We are focused on facilitating connections with new markets and emerging businesses primed for certification and the capacity and capability for growth.

Join us for our Matchamker event to connect with buyers and MBEs with business opportunities, receive consultation, or get access to capital. 

   LEARN MORE   
VANGUARD SPONSORS
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Increase Engagement and ROI

As a sponsor of the NMSDC Annual Conference & Exchange, you stand at the flashpoint of an economic equity revolution. One fueled not just by public statements of support, but by an exponential acceleration toward $1 trillion in revenue, wealth, and opportunity.

EXPLORE SPONSORSHIP
HERITAGE SPONSORS
STRATEGIC MEDIA PARTNERS